Auto-aeroplane



April 16, 1935.

D. VIERIU AUTO-AEROPLANE Filed April 18, 1934 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Maw;

April 16, 1935.

D. VIERIU AUTO-AEROPLANE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed'April 18, 1934 Fr e/12 01 Dame! Z/zemu April 16, 1935. v u 1,998,148

AUTO-AEROPLANE I Filed April 18, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m v j k WWW Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES ideal ta some PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention is a new auto-aeroplane consisting principally of an aeroplane with collapsible wings which can be folded back against the sides of the fuselage, and traction means powered by the aeroplane motor is provided to move the plane on the ground in the same manner as an automobile.

The main object of my invention is to provide an aeroplane that can be operated as an automobile on land.

The second object of my invention is to provide a means for propelling the plane on land in the manner of an automobile. The third object of invention is to provide a means for folding the wings of an aeroplane against the sides of the fuselage.

Other objects of my invention will be shown, and described further in this specification.

This invention will be particularly beneficial on small planes, in that it eliminates the necessity of a second machine for traveling on land to or from the aeroplane landing field; the pilot can land his plane, fold the wings in a moments time and immediately drive on to his destination.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the plane with the wings shown folded by dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the plane.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the plane with the wings folded.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the table on which the wings revolve, the wings shown in dash lines.

Fig. 5 is a partial section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken through the center of the fuselage showing a modified form of folding means for the wings.

Fig. 7 is a partial section taken on line 'l1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 6.

In the accompanying drawings of my autoaeroplane, no specific construction is emphasized and only those details are shown which are necessary to understand the objects of my invention.

My invention, as I have shown it, comprises a fuselage generally designated by numeral l, wings 2 are pivotally supported on a base or table member 3 by pins 4. The said base member 3 is secured to the top of the fuselage body I and has a slotted groove 5 in the upper face thereof, partially in the form of an arc with the pivot 4 as the center point; and is affixed to a cable 1 which is movable in the said groove 5; the two ends of the cable 1 after passing over the pulleys 8 are secured to the rack 9 which is slidable in a straight groove III in the base member 3, Figs. 4 and 5; the rack 9 is actuated in either direction by a pinion l I operated by moving the handle l2 pinned to the shaft of the said pinion l I an electric motor or other suitable power means may be used to drive the gear I I if desired. A second similar unit comprising a pin 6 slidable in the groove 5, a cable 1, pulleys 8, rack 9 and a pinion I3 is provided for the other wing, and the pinion I3 is actuated by the gear H. Clamps l4 and I5 are provided on the wings 2, to hold the wings firmly to the base member 3 in flying position. Brace members I 6 are secured to the sides of the tail I! of the fuselage l to support the wings 2, when they are in the folded position.

The traction means for moving the plane on land as is schematically shown in Fig. 1, is provided by the use of the planes motor 18, from which the power is transmitted by suitable gearing l9 and gear shift 20 to a drive shaft 2|, and thence to the differential 22 to drive the rear wheels 23 in a manner similar to the present automobiles. A steering means 24 is provided for turning the front wheels 25 of the autoplane.

The wings 2 of the plane are folded by moving the handle I 2 to revolve the gear I l clockwise, Fig. 4, which actuates the rack forward in the groove l0, drawing the cable 1 and pin 6 rearwardly in groove 5, thereby pivoting the wing 2 on pin 4 until the wing rests on the braces IS, on the tail H; as the gear II was revolved clockwise, it engaged and revolved the gear l3 counterclockwise to move the rack 9 forward and simultaneously fold the second wing with the other wing. The pilot then puts the gear shift 20 into gear and transmits the power from the motor l8, Fig. 3, by gearing l9, through gear shift 20, and the drive shaft 2|, to the differential 22 to drive the wheels 23 in a manner similar to standard automobiles.

A modified means for folding the wings is shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, which comprises the groove 5 in plate 3 similar to that groove mentioned in the previous folding means, a cable 26 secured to the pin 6, drops down over pulley 21 and through an aperture in the cabin floor and thence is directed by pulleys 28 and 29 to plate member 30, to which the ends of cable 26 is secured. The plate member 30 is movable on a threaded shaft 3| in the casing or housing 32, the said shaft 3| is geared at one end to an electric motor which is operated with a suitable switching means by the pilot.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described,

it will be understood that numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an auto-aeroplane of the character described a means for pivotally folding the wings of the auto-aeroplane, comprising a table member secured to the top of the body of said aeroplane, pins on said table member on which each wing is pivoted, an arc groove in said table member having the said pin as a center, a guide pin projecting downward from the said wing and slidable in the said groove, a cable fixedly secured to the said guide pin and movable in the said groove, a rack slidable in a straight groove joining the ends of the arc groove and having the free ends of the said cable secured to the ends of the said rack, a pinion engaging the said rack and actuated by a hand lever of suitable motor means.

2. In an aeroplane of the character described a means for pivotally folding the wings of said acreplane, comprising a table member secured to the top of the body of said aeroplane, a pin on said table member on which each wing is pivoted, an arc groove in said table member having the said pin as a center, a guide pin projecting downwardly from the said wing and slidable in the said groove, a cable fixedly secured to the said guide pin and movable in the said groove to apertures in the said table member, the said cable is passed through the said apertures and directed by pulleys to the bottom of the aeroplane, a metal plate to which the ends of the cable are secured, a rotating threaded shaft supported in a suitable housing and the said shaft actuates the metal plate which is correspondingly threaded, a power means for driving the said shaft.

3. In an auto-aeroplane of the character described, including means for pivotally folding the wings of the auto-aeroplane, comprising a table member secured to the body of said aeroplane, pins on said table member on which each wing is pivoted, an arc groove in said table member having the said pin as a center, guiding means for said wing, a cable having connection with the wing, a rack slidable in a straight groove, and having the free ends of said cable secured to the ends of the rack, a pinion engaging said rack and actuated by a hand lever of a suitable motor means.

DANIEL VIERIU. 

